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North Merritt Island Observatory

North Merritt Island Observatory

Images from a private observatory in central Florida.

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North Merritt Island Observatory
North Merritt Island Observatory
Images from a private observatory in central Florida.

Month: June 2019

Live Star Party: The Pinwheel Galaxy
Podcasts

Live Star Party: The Pinwheel Galaxy

ByFrank Kane June 21, 2019June 22, 2019

Last night, we aimed our telescope at the Pinwheel Galaxy, and it just got prettier and prettier over time. Together, we’ll look at a trillion stars 20 million light-years away – it’s mind-blowing stuff. Check it out! We also discussed the distant world Ultima Thule in Tori’s “Far Out Fact” segment. Learn more about this…

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Simplify and Automate your Astrophotography
Frank's Astrophotos

Simplify and Automate your Astrophotography

ByFrank Kane June 15, 2019June 15, 2019

If you’re serious about becoming a better astrophotographer, like with anything, it’s all about practice. With every image you produce, you’ll learn something that makes your next image a little better. But life has a habit of getting in the way. You’ve had a long, tiring day at work – do you really want to…

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Tulip Nebula (SH2-101)
Frank's Astrophotos

A Tulip and a Supernova

ByFrank Kane June 4, 2019December 16, 2020

In these short summer nights, I want to take advantage of every moment of darkness. Right now, the galaxy M100 is up in the hours before midnight, and the “Tulip Nebula” – formally SH2-101 – rises just as M100 sets. So for this past week, I’ve been imaging both objects. But no more clear skies…

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Dumbbell Nebula (M27)
Frank's Astrophotos

The Dumbbell Nebula

ByFrank Kane June 2, 2019December 16, 2020

The Dumbbell Nebula (M27) is what’s called a planetary nebula – but it has nothing to do with a planet. This shell of gas was blown out by a dying star; once it started to run out of Hydrogen to burn, it expanded and blew out the gases you see here. The star then collapsed…

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Boldly Going Webcast: Behind the Scenes
Frank's Astrophotos

Boldly Going Webcast: Behind the Scenes

ByFrank Kane June 1, 2019May 26, 2019

If you’re a fellow amateur astronomer, you might be curious as to how our “live star parties” on our Boldly Going YouTube Channel are produced. The more people doing this, the better! Here’s how it all works behind the scenes, which might give you some ideas on how to produce your own show. The Heart…

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Frank’s Gallery

Horsehead and Flame
Abell 1656 in Coma Berenices
Coma Berenices
M16, starless
M74
M74
NGC2841
Monkey Head Nebula
Monkey Head Nebula
M13
NGC 3718
NGC 3718
M17
Hoag's Object
Hoag’s Object
Soul Nebula
Soul Nebula
Sculptor Galaxy (NGC253)
Sculptor Galaxy
M3
M14
M14
Whirpool Galaxy
NGC2903
Abell 33
Diamond Ring Nebula
Helix Nebula
Helix Nebula
Elephant’s Trunk
NGC2336
NGC2336
Whale & Hockey Stick
Jupiter
The Moon
Whale Galaxy
Rosette Nebula
Rosette Nebula
M61 with supernova
M61 / Supernova
Antennae Galaxies
Dolphin Head Nebula
Spider Nebula
Spider Nebula
NGC5033
NGC5033,NGC5005
NGC1333
NGC2403
NGC2403
Thor's Helmet
Thor’s Helmet
Mars and Uranus
Lagoon Nebula
M5
Flaming Star Nebula
Flaming Star Nebula
M33
Triangulum Galaxy
Coalsack Nebula
Cocoon Nebula
California Nebula
California Nebula
M16
M16
Cave Nebula
Cave Nebula
Jellyfish Nebula
Pelican Nebula
Mars
M53
M53
Cone & Fox Fur
NGC206
NGC206
Cygnus Wall
Cygnus Wall
April ’24 Eclipse
M100 with SN2019ehk
M100
Bubble Nebula
Dumbbell Nebula
Needle Galaxy
Omega Centauri
M15
M15
Abell 39
Abell 39
Sombrero Galaxy (M104)
Sombrero Galaxy
Witch’s Broom
SH2-9
SH2-9
Silver Sliver Galaxy
The Leo Trio
The Black Eye Galaxy
Baby Nebula (Soul Nebula) - Portion
Baby Nebula
Iris Nebula
The Sun
Bode's Galaxy
Bode’s Galaxy
Saturn
Tulip Nebula
PacMan Nebula
Pac-Man Nebula
C/2022 E3 (ZTF)
The Hidden Galaxy
M66
Hickson 44 Galaxy Group
Hickson 44
NGC3344
vdB93
NGC5264 + friends
Pinwheel Galaxy
Horsehead Nebula
Horsehead Nebula
Melotte 15
Ghost of Cassiopeia
M20
Trifid Nebula
Orion Nebula
Orion Nebula
Deer Lick Galaxy Group and Stephan's Quintet
Deer Lick Group
Centaurus A
Sunflower Galaxy
Sunflower Galaxy
M80
2019 Lunar Eclipse
Lunar Eclipse
M106
M92
NGC660 polar ring galaxy
NGC 660
M88
M94
M81 and M82
Bode’s Galaxies
Veil Nebula
Veil Nebula
Crescent Nebula
Northern Trifid
Markarian's Chain of Galaxies
Markarian’s Chain
Medusa Nebula
Medusa Nebula
Wizard Nebula
Wizard Nebula
Comet C/2021 A1 Leonard
Comet Leonard
Butterfly Galaxies

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